Page 23
Reina bobbed her head thoughtfully. Her eyes grew wide, and she spun toward Aarin who was shuffling about the room. “He has grafts.”
Lily almost wept with relief. Miracles in little ghosted discs. They could grant abilities not even the Flares could give. “Vanishing?” she asked. Reina nodded again. Thank the light! “Aarin, I could kiss you. How much do you want for them?” She glanced at Reina. “Two should be enough, right?”
“Should be,” Reina said. “Aarin. How about it? Mind parting with a few?”
Aarin looked up. “I can’t help you.”
Lily’s heart sank.
“What do you mean?” Reina asked. “We can pay you for them. I’m sorry about all of this, but—”
“Was that Stalker here for you?” Aarin’s gaze fell to Lily, face sullen. “You’re what he’s after, right?”
Does he know? Lily strode toward him, astonished. “There’s at least half a dozen reapers down there.”
“Then why is he coming for you? What makes you different?”
“Aarin!” Reina yelled. “We’re wasting time!”
“I’m sorry, Rey. I won’t help her.”
Lily tensed. He couldn’t know she had the Wraith. She’d been so careful. Hadn’t used it since she was a child. She looked and acted like any common soul, yet Aarin had always been cautious of Lily, his blessing prodding against her like a thief inspecting a locked box. A soul from the Allay, his shard gave him a different kind of sensorial experience—feelings that told him which way to lean before he was struck by a vehicle. He didn’t need escence, but he took it anyway to strengthen the accuracy of his gift.
His intuition was telling him not to let her go. For whose benefit? Certainly not Lily’s, but if it were for Reina’s…
Screams sounded outside. Their heads snapped to the door.
Fuck! “I have to get out of here!” Lily yelled.
Aarin pulled his gun from his belt and pointed it at her.
Lily returned the gesture, finger hovering over the trigger. “Let me go!”
“I can’t do that!”
“Aarin!” Reina’s voice was desperate. She flicked worried glances and pleaded between her and Aarin, but Lily heard none of it, all sound and sensation turning to static. Everything was going wrong so fast.
“Drop it!” Aarin yelled.
Reina stepped in front of Lily, hands raised. “I don’t care what your intuition is telling you. I won’t leave her!”
Lily’s breath caught. But I will leave you.
She had to, now more than ever to keep at least one of them safe. Aarin could get Reina out of here. She had to believe he would.
And Aarin had given her the answer to getting them both out of the city.
Lily raised her weapon slowly behind Reina’s back. “Okay,” she said softly. “I’ll back off.” Aarin loosened his grip. Her heart thrummed in her ears “You’re right. I’ll—”
Lily shoved Reina across the room. She stumbled into Aarin, and he lifted his pistol high as she crashed into him. Reina whipped around to face her, but Aarin wrapped a tight arm around her chest, pointing his gun at Lily just as quickly as she pointed hers at him.
“Lily!” Reina balked. “What are you—”
Reina would be safe with Aarin. She needed to stay. “Show me the graft,” Lily demanded.
He wavered a moment before reaching into his pants’ pocket and pulling out a small black disk. A sliver of a green soul glowed at the center. Aithre runes curved around the edge.
A short sigh of relief escaped her chest. Cautiously, Lily pointed the gun at the frosted glass, shooting the seams at the floor and ceiling. Aarin and Reina winced at the sound, but Aarin didn’t retaliate. A blast of cold hit Lily from the opening.
